Toronto · GTA · Since 2013

Support and Care for Minor Students in Canada

Custodianship, homestay and day-to-day support for international students under 18 in Toronto and the GTA. Your child has a named custodian, and you have a direct line to us.

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Downtown street in Toronto
  • 2013agency founded in Toronto
  • 2,000+students cared for
  • 24/7emergency line for supervised students
Olga Korpalo

A custodian with a name

My name is Olga Korpalo. When a child comes to study here without a parent, an adult in Canada signs as their custodian. At our agency, you can speak with that adult before you decide.

Olga KorpaloFounder, custodian

+1 647 628 0986English · Ukrainian · Russian

What We Do

Three services, sold separately or together. Custodianship never requires you to rent housing through us.

01

Custodianship

Canada requires a custodian for a minor international student who comes without a parent. The custodian is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who takes responsibility for the child. Rules depend on age and school. The school and a licensed consultant confirm the current requirement; we prepare our part of the declaration. We prepare and notarize the Custodianship Declaration (form IMM 5646). Then we do the work it describes: we stay in touch with your child, the school and you, all year. Our custodians live in Toronto and cover schools, colleges and universities across the GTA.

If your child lives with relatives or in a student residence, we can still be their custodian. You do not need to rent housing through us.

02

Homestay

A minor student in Canada can live with a host family or in a student residence. Many families choose a host family: home cooking, an adult nearby and English at the dinner table. We work with host families we know, visit in person and police-check. We match with care: diet, allergies, pets and travel time to school by TTC. Written house rules set clear expectations for everyone. If a match does not work, we listen to both sides and arrange a move.

03

Support

Parents cannot always be here when their child needs them, especially in the first months. We meet your child at Pearson and help with a SIM card, a bank account and a Presto card. We walk the route to school together. During the year we are the school's contact and go with your child to doctor visits. We send you a monthly report and keep a 24/7 line for anything urgent. Parents often search for a guardian; the IRCC term is custodian.

International students support in Canada

How It Works

  1. 01

    You write or call. We talk about your child, the school and the dates. In English, Ukrainian or Russian.

  2. 02

    We send a clear quote and the agreement. Everything in writing, including anything billed separately.

  3. 03

    We prepare the Custodianship Declaration (IMM 5646): our part notarized in Canada, your part guided step by step in your country.

  4. 04

    You file the study permit application. If a host family is needed, we arrange homestay in the same package.

  5. 05

    Your child arrives at Pearson, and we meet them there. Through the school year we stay in touch with your child, the school and you.

Our Prices

We publish our prices in Canadian dollars. Emergency support, including clinic and hospital visits, is provided as set out in the Terms.

Custodianship

PackageWhat is includedPrice (CAD)
Declaration OnlyNotarized IMM 5646 (custodian's part), guidance for the parents' part, document check$250 one time
Custodianship StandardDeclaration + supervision for the school year: arrival meeting, school liaison, monthly reports, 24/7 emergency line, renewal tracking$1,500 / school year
Custodianship PremiumStandard + weekly check-ins, all school meetings, quarterly written reports, priority response$2,500 / school year
Monthly optionStandard billed monthly for shorter stays$300 registration
$125 / month

Homestay

Room only$1,100 / month
Room + 1 meal$1,300 / month
Semi-board (2 meals)$1,450 / month
Full board (3 meals)$1,600 / month
Placement fee$300 one time
Airport pickup / drop-off (Pearson)$150 / $120

Minimum homestay stay: one semester (four months). The most chosen bundle: Custodianship Standard + full board, with the Pearson pickup included. Prices before HST where it applies.

Why Families Choose Us

International teens at an English summer school in Canada

  • 2013

    Working with international students and their families since 2013.

  • 2,000+

    2,000+ students cared for, 15 host families we keep for years.

  • Named

    A named custodian. You know who is responsible for your child.

  • Independent

    Custodianship on its own is fine with us, whether your child lives with relatives or in a residence.

  • Transparent

    Prices are published on this page. Emergency support is provided as set out in the Terms.

Meet Olga Korpalo

I began working with international students and their families in Canada in 2013, and custodianship came first. Families needed an adult in Toronto who would sign the declaration and stay in touch with their child. Later I founded CanStart Group, a Canadian education company. Today our small team prepares declarations, meets students at Pearson, attends school meetings and goes with students to clinic visits. On a first call, ask us which schools we work with, how many students we take and what the fee covers.

Olga Korpalo

Olga Korpalo meeting a student at Toronto Pearson airport

Immigration advice is provided separately by a licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). See immigration.korpalo.ca.

Our Partners

We work with schools, colleges and recruitment agencies across the GTA.

If you are an agency or a school placing minor students in the GTA, we can be your custodianship partner. We offer notarized declarations, a named custodian your clients can meet by video, and reports you can forward.

Write with subject Partnership

Frequently Asked Questions

Does my child need a custodian to study in Canada?

Usually yes, if your child is a minor and will study in Canada without a parent. IRCC then asks for a custodian and a notarized IMM 5646. The rules depend on age and school. The school and a licensed consultant confirm the current requirement; we prepare our part of the declaration. In Ontario, custodianship ends at 18, the age of majority.

Who can be a custodian?

An adult Canadian citizen or permanent resident who lives near the school and is available when needed. A relative or family friend can qualify. School boards may add their own conditions, and we check them for your child's school. When there is no suitable person, families appoint us.

Is a custodian the same as a guardian?

No. Legal guardianship is a court matter. Custodianship is the IRCC arrangement for international students; parents keep full authority. If you searched for a guardian, custodianship is almost certainly what you need.

Does the IMM 5646 need to be notarized?

The IMM 5646 is the Custodianship Declaration that IRCC asks for with a minor's study permit application. Both parts are notarized: ours in Canada, the parents' part in your home country. IRCC decides on the study permit; we cannot promise any outcome.

How much does custodianship cost?

Custodianship Standard is $1,500 per school year, and the declaration alone is $250. Full tables are in the prices section above.

Who takes care of my child in an emergency?

We do. The student, the host family and the school all have our 24/7 emergency number. If your child needs a clinic or hospital, we go with them and keep you informed. Emergency support is provided as set out in the Terms and Conditions.

How fast can you issue the declaration?

Usually within a few business days once we have your documents. If your deadline is close, tell us at the start and we will plan the steps with you.

What does a custodian not do?

A custodian is not a legal guardian and does not take over your rights as parents. We do not pay tuition, homestay fees or living costs. We do not hold or manage your child's money, and we are not responsible for grades or discipline at home. We act as your representative in Canada. We are the school's contact and the adult who can consent to medical care in an emergency. We also check in on your child and report back to you.

Where will my child live, and how are host families checked?

A student under 18 in our care does not live alone. Some school boards require younger students to live with a parent or their custodian. We check the rules for your child's school. Every adult in a host household passes a police check. We also make reference calls and visit the home. Host families have our 24/7 line. If a match is not working, we arrange a move, and in an emergency we act right away. We visit and stay in contact with your child wherever they live.

When should we start, and what do you need from us?

Start as soon as your child has a letter of acceptance. School boards close applications early, and study permit processing times vary, so earlier is better. Once you decide to go ahead, we ask for copies of your child's passport and the letter of acceptance. We also need the planned address in Canada, both parents' passports and contact details, and our intake form. Then we prepare the declaration and guide you through notarization at home.

Contact

Custodianship.ca

Custodianship Student Support Agency

Olga Korpalo

Phone / WhatsApp
+1 647 628 0986
Address
Toronto, Ontario

Your Request

Tell us about your child and we will reply within one business day, in English, Ukrainian or Russian.

Prefer paper?

Download, fill in and email the forms to info@custodianship.ca:

We reply within one business day.